Table game



" Dec. 15, 1925.. 566,057

E. WILKINSON TABLE GAME Filed Qct. 21', 1924' v2 Sheets-Shoot.

E. F .VVILPUPQSCDN 'TABLE GAME Filed Oct. 21, 1924 2 Shuts-Sheet 2 Mag l Patented Dec. 15, 1925.

UNITED STATES EDWIN F. WILKINSON, or LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

TABL'E GAME.

Application filed October 21, 1924. Serial No. 744,889.

e To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN F. WILKINSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of. Los Angeles,

State of California, have invented a new "and useful Table Game, of which the following is a specification. I

Although my present invention is referred to simply as a game, it may be understood to'be a primary object of this invention to provide an active sport or game especially suitable for use on board ships, or in similar places where there is'a demand for astimes affording exercise and requiring skill, but nevertheless capable of being played in comparatively restricted space.

It is anobject of this invention to provide a game which may 'be compared with the well known sport calledrdeck golf, in that objects corresponding to balls are driven from point to point; and my novel 'ganre may also be likened to pool or billiards, in that it is adapted to be played upon a table top by means of cues.

It is'thus an object of m invention to provide an indoor ame of s '11 ca able of affording considera 1e exercise an nevertheless requiring very little s ace for the storage of the equipment; an in an embodiment of my invention designed for gen eral use, but especially suitable for use on ocean liners, or wherever an unsteadiness of motion mayrender the use of actual balls impracticable, I may employ, instead of ordinary balls, non-s herical bodies, which may be in the form 0 discs having rounded edges and ada ted to rebound, somewhat in the manner 0 billiard balls, from a frame or ledge, with or without a cushion, at the edge of a table, these discs normally sliding over a com aratively fiat and smooth field, provided with depressions suggestive of the holes of a olf course, and optionally provided also w th hazards which may be of a s ecial character hereinafter described.

ther ob'ects of my invention will appear from the ollowing description of an advantageous embodiment thereof, taken in connection with the appended claims and the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a table or course or field on which my game may be played. I

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section, taken in a vertical plane, substantially as indicated by the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section, taken substantially as indicated by the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a preferred form of disc.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of an advantageous type of. hazard.

Fig. 6 is a sectional detailed View indicating suitable dimensions and relationshipsbetween a disc suitable for use in the playing of my game and a hole adapted to receive the same, as hereinafter described, each disc being preferably of such weight, form and finish as to assure its sliding completely into any hole into which it may tilt.

Although a table or top suitable for use in the playing of my game may be formed of any preferred material, and although such a table may be constructed without legs or with rigid legs, I have shown the field or top 21 as constructed of comparatively thick material, such as ordinary seasoned lumber well dressed and fitted and provided at its edges with a frame 22, which may or may not be cut away to receive a cushion of rubber or similar elastic material. entire field may be adapted either to stand upon its own legs or to overlie the top of any ordinary table. For garden use, it {plight in fact be formed of concrete, or the The space within the frame 22 may be entirely flat, excepting as'the same is provided with holes, 1 to 18 inclusive, and with hazards which may be in the form of upwardly projecting pins comprising screws 23 and washers 24, securing cylindrical rubber cushions 25, shown as slightly ta-- pered at their bases 26.

On the field may be painted greens or tees 1 to 18, shown as square; and each player may be provided with a one (not shown) and with a disc 30. The discs may be differently colored, or they may eaclr be provided, on a fiat surface or surfaces thereof, with a distinguishing character. For example, when four discs are employed, they may be respectively marked A, B, C and D, and the players using the same may also be identified by these letters. Arrows 31 may be painted on the field in proximity to the respective greens, to indicate the initial direction of play therefrom; and a border or set-back line 32 may be drawn about the entire field, to indicate the position to which a player may manually restore his ball whenever the same is driven so close to the The frame 22 as to make it im racticable for him to use his cue in a satis actory manner.

In the table or board disclosed, I have shown a green near each corner, but I have shown only four holes as adapted to be made by straight shots, and only three of them (which may be referred to as outside holes) are unprovided with hazards 25 adjacent the same; and I have shown the finishing hole 18 as placed centrally of the.

table or board. All other inside holes have hazards associated with them.

The over-all dimensions of a table or top suitable for use in the playing of my game may be varied as desired; and the arrangement of the holes and hazards may also be changed; but highly satisfactory results have been obtained by the use of a folding table three feet, six inches wide and five feet, six inches long, having a playing field three feet by five feet, and even when well seasoned and carefully finished hard wood is used, I find it advantageous to supplement the hinges 33, as used on a folding table top, by providing additional means such as pins 34, imbedded in one of the co-operatlng halves of such a top and provided with rounded ends adapted to interfit within corresponding sockets 35 in the adjacent half, this being effective to prevent either half from springing in such manner as to interfere with successful play.

Finding it in many respects more satisfactory to appl an annular cushion to each of the discs 1; an to secure a continuous cushion at the inner edge of the frame 22, and finding it advantageous to employ rather heavy discs and to adapt the same freely to enter the mentioned holes, I may so cast each disc, from iron or the like, as to provide a constriction 36 between a relativel expanded foot 37 and a similarly expanded head 38, the latter preferably displaying the mentioned letter as an identifying character. In the mentioned constriction, I may secure a cushioning element such as a soft rubber ring 39, preferably slightly undersize, under a slight consequent tension. The exposed parts of each disc may advantageously be nickel plated and highly polished, and the foot 37 may be of such thickness as to carry the center of gravity below the geometric center of each disc. Each foot may also be slightly tapered and rounded in two planes, in a manner favorable to the dropping of the same into any hole across which it may be shot. Each disc, complete with its replaceable rubber c.ushion,. may weigh about 4 ounces, and may have about inch total clearance within a 2 inch hole, the metallic body being, in this case about 1% inches in extreme diameter. Instead of employing a continuous lining of sheet metal, and in preference to dispensing entirely with metallic reinforcement of the holes 1 to 18 inclusive, I consider it advantageous, even when the wood employed in the construction of my table is genuinely hard, to provide each hole with a separate metallic lining, and this lining may advantageously comprise a cup having an edge, flange or marginal portion adapted to be countersunk, each cup preferably carrying, as by a stamping in the bottom thereof, one of the consecutive numbers by which therespective holes are identified. Optionally, the interior margin of each cup may be especially strengthened, as by thickening the same in the manner shown at 40, Fig. 6, to with stand the repeated and direct impacts of the described discs, it being understood that the rounded foot 37 will normally strike a ipqrgin or shoulder 40 before settling into a The hazards 25, or their equivalent, may serve both as a hindrance and as an aid in the making of holes; and a player may be permitted to steady his one therefrom or to direct a disc thereagainst, to make a broken shot.

Each player being allowed to play in turn, the game may be regarded as won by that player who first makes, in their proper sequence all of the holes from 1 to 18 inclusive; and, although any desired rules ma be applied in the playing of a game Wit 1 the novel equipment described, an advantageous procedure may be substantially as follows:

Rules Rule No. 1. Two or more people can play. Discs are A. B. C. and D; Flip coin for choice of shots. A shoots first, B next and so on. .If more than two play, A and C will play partners, B and D opposing them.

Rule LTD. 2. Game starts at No. 1 tee or square, shooting for No. 1 hole. All first shots must be in general direction of arrow; but when shooting from the field you can shoot in any direction. If put in hole other than your own by opponent, or through imperfect shot of your own, stay in hole until your turn to shoot, at which time you place disc on nearest tee, this move constituting a shot. If still on tee, at your next shot you can shoot in any course.

Rule No. 3. If the presence of your disc in a hole should interfere with another player, it must be temporarily lifted and removed from play until hole is passed.

Rule No. 4. All first shots from a tee must hit rail, before hitting an opponent, with one exception; where opponent is directly between you and rail.

Rule No. 5. Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 1-1 are straight shots, in making which it is not compulsory that you hit rail before making hole; all others are banking shots.

Rule No. 6. Hitting opponents disc when he is in line of your shot from tee or from rail, also hitting him any time from "field, entitles you to another shot.

Rule No. 7. Your extra shot can be taken for your hole or at your opponent, but hitting him the second time does not entitle you to another shot if in the same turn.

Rule NOT 8. If you knock opponents disc from the table you lose your extra shot. He must then place disc on last tee he shot from and shoot for his regular hole;,but, if more than'two are playing, he waits his regular turn.

If you shoot yourown disc oil the table,

it is out of bounds, and costs one shotto replace on your last tee, (same as being put in hole by opponent). I

Rule No. 9. Opponents disc can not be put in hole more than three times between any two holes.

Rule No. 10. If more than two are playing, you can take a shot at each opponent, then take your extra shot for hole or for last opponent that you hit.-

When a portable top of the general character illustrated is' provided with hinges, permitting the same to be folded, it will be obvious that the ones (not shown) anddiscs may be enclosed therein, for safe-keepng,

when not in use, and that the folded table "requires but little storage space.

Spacing buttons 41 and a catch 42, adapted to engage apin 43, may optionally be added.

Although I have herein described one complete embodiment of my invention, suggesting rules applicable in the use of the same, 1t will be understood that various features thereof might be independently employed, and also that various modification might be 'made, by those skilled in the art to which this case relates, without the slightest departure from the spirit and scope of my invention, as the same is indicated above and in the following claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a game suitable to be played on a surface of the billiard table type and by means of slidable discs manipulable by ones: a substantially flat field provided with starting greens consecutively designated and with holes similarly designated, and. with hazards in the form of pins comprising cushions secured by screws in proximity to some of said holes.

2. In a game suitable to befplayed on a surface of the billiard table type and by means of slidable discs manipulable by cues: a substantially flat field rovided with starting greensconsecutively esignated and with holes-similarly designated and with set back lines-near the edges thereof and so placed'as to permit use tof asaid cues.

3. In a game suitable to played on a surface of the billiard table type and by means of slidable discs mampulable by cues: a substantially fiat field provided with starting greens consecutively designated and with holes similarly designated, some of said holes being inside holes, and all inside of said greens being near the corners of said field and other holes, except a substantially central hole, being provided with adjacent hazards in the form of pins suitable for incidental use in the steadying of cues.

5. For use in the playing of a game upon a board or table provided with holes adapted to receive the same, a slidable disc comprising a metallic body having a substantially flat bottom and provided with an annular cushion.

6. For use in the playing of a game upon a board or table provided with holes adapted to receive the same, a slidable disc comprising a metallic body having a substantially fiat bottom and provided with an annular cushion, said cushion being received in a constriction between a relatively expanded head and a foot similarly ex anded. V

7. For use in the playing- 0 a game upon a board or table provided with holes adapted to receive the same, a slidable disc comprising a metallic body having a substantially fiat bottom and rovided with an annular cushion, said cus ion being received in a 9. For use in the playing of a game upon a board or table provided with holes adapted toreceive the same, a slidable disc comprising a metallic body having a substantially fiat bottom and provided with an annular cushion, said cushion being received in a constriction between a relatively expanded head and afoot similarly expanded, said head and footbeing of such relative proport-ions as to carry the center of gravity of the disc below the geometric center thereof.

10. For use in the laying of a game upon a board or table provided with holes adapted.

to receive the same, a slidable-disc comprise ing a metallic body having a substantially flatbottom and provided with an annular cushion, said cushion being in the form of an undersize annular ring.

11. In a game organization as defined in claim 2, a vided with a frame carrying hinges and with means between said hinges, to prevent the springing of the parts thereof.

12. In a game organization, a board provided with a marginal frame and with holes arranged in an outside series and an inside series, each of the holes in the latter series, except a finishing hole, being associated with a hazard in the form of a pin comprising an elastic element. A

13. In a game organlzation, a board pro-4 with a hazard in,the form of a ,pin, and

said finishing central.

14. In a game organization comprising a hole being substantially olding table top, or board pro table or board provided with holes into which comparatively heavy discs may be shot by means of cues, reinforcing means for each hole comprising acup having a c0untersunk'marginal portion and comprising'also a bottom provided-with an identifying character.

16. In a game organization comprising a table or board provided with 'holes into which comparatively heavy discs may be shot by means of ,cues, reinforcing means for each hole comprising a cup having a counter-sunk marginal portion especially strong in that region which directly receives the impact of discs.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California,

this 15th day of October, 1924:.

' EDWIN F. WILKINSON. 

